Although your dog is considered a carnivore, this does not mean that it will eat meat exclusively. In fact, it is very common for dogs to eat a wide variety of things that would not ordinarily be considered a regular part of the canine diet. Unfortunately for some, this may include your prized garden tulips. However, more important than the possible destruction of one’s flowers is the possibility that these plants and flowers are often extremely poisonous to dogs.

Among plants normally consumed by humans, there are a few which are known to be toxic to dogs. These include grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, avocado, tomatoes, potatoes, and rhubarb. Of course, most people would be hesitant to let their dog wander through their garden on any occasion, but owners should be especially cautious if they are growing any of the aforementioned plants.

Aside from plants normally consumed by humans, there are a number common decorative plants that can also be very toxic. Just because they are not edible plants does not mean that your dog will never attempt to eat them. Hunger is the root instinct of any animal, and curiosity is strong among especially intelligent dogs. Either one may cause an otherwise well trained and well behaved canine to being eating surrounding plants. Among the common decorative plants that are toxic to dogs are Aloe Vera, Azalea flowers, Daffodils, most types of Lily, Foxglove flowers, Holly, Hyacinth, most types of Ivy, Mistletoe, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Philodendron, Poinsettia flowers, Tulips, and many varieties of wild mushroom.

Of course, it is impossible to list every single plant which may be toxic to your dog, as there are literally thousands. The most obvious prevention method to keep your dog from eating toxic plants is to ensure they are not left unsupervised in a garden that contains a wide variety of flowers and plants. While being kept outside, it is recommended that your protection dog, guard dog or security dog be kept in a comfortable area that is kept free of weeds and fungus. It is also a good idea to ensure that your dogs are fed from a consistent source, such as a food bowl. Feeding your dog without a bowl encourages it to take food from other sources, and is generally a bad idea. Here at CCK9, all of our German Shepherd puppies, Dutch Shepherd puppies, and Belgian Malinois puppies are fed from bowls the moment we begin feeding them solid food to help enforce this habit.